Railroad switch lug



April 3, 1934- T. J. CARLAN 1,953,530

RAILROAD SWITCH LUG Filed April 7. 1930 llliii Inventor A tiorney Fatentecl Apr. 3, 1934 PATENT QFFICE RAILROAD SWITCH LUG Thomas J. Carlan, South Chicago, 111., assignor of one-half to Daniel L. Carlan, East Chicago,

Ind.

Application April 7, 1930, Serial No. 442,131

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad switch lug and it more especially consists of the features pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a switch lug with a composite boss attached to the bottom end of a switch stand rod; that secures the central portion of the boss permanently to the switch stand rod; that connects the outer portion of the boss formed with a crank for operating the switch tongue to the inner portion by means of shear-able pins; that prevents the breakage of switch lugs when cars are moved out of the switch without the switch stand being turned; and that in case the shearable pins have been sheared off the switch lug is readily put back into service by simply replacing the pins.

With these and other ends in view, I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features of my invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is a side elevation in section on line 11 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in section on line 3--3 of Fig. 4 of an alternative form.

Fig. 4 is a plan View, partly in section, of Fig. 3.

In installing my invention I may use whatever alternatives and equivalents of construction that the exigencies of varying conditions may demand Without departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

At the bottom end of a switch stand rod 1 a shoulder 2 may be formed, and below this the rod is made square at 3. This square end terminates in a threaded portion 4. It is held in engagement with the inner shell '7 by means of a nut 19. This nut has a projection 5 which engages the lower end of the portion 7 and thus rigidly connects the center portion '7 to the square end 3. The hub 9 is loosely held by the shoulder 6 of the nut 19. It has a crank arm 11 and a flange 10, also a hole 12 for connecting it to the switch points (not shown).

The center portion 7 has a flange 8 which rests on the hub 9. Shearable pins 13 pass into holes 14. They serve to hold the parts '7 and 9 in engagement with each other. When the stem 1 is turned the crank 11 will turn with it by reason of the pins 13.

In the alternative form instanced in Fig. 3, small bosses 20 are formed as shown in Fig. 4 on flange 8 and hub 9. Holes 15 are formed through the bosses 20 and shearable pins 16 may be positioned in these holes. Should it be desired to fasten the parts 8 and 9 to each other bolts 17 may be used. These are provided with nuts 18.

Whenever a switch point is forced open the pins 16 or 17 will be sheared off at the meeting face of the flange 8 and the hub 9. The portion shorn oii will simply drop out of the holes 15, thus preventing the switch lug from being broken.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for railway switches to prevent the breaking of closed switch stands when a car is moved out of the switch, a crank arm for direct attachment to a switch rod, a hub formed thereon having an annular recess therein, a flanged col lar seated in the recess, a switch stand rod secured to the collar, and means s-hearable under stress for holding the collar and hub in engagement with each other to be moved as a unit.

2. A device for railway switches to prevent the breakage of closed switch stands when car wheels roll out of the switch, comprising a recessed hub, a switch stand rod, a flanged collar secured to the rod, means for pivotally holding the collar in the hub said means engaging the face of the hub opposite to that engaged by the collar, a crank arm projecting from the hub, and frangible means for holding the hub and the collar in rigid engagement with each other.

3. A switch stand, comprising a switch stand rod, a large diameter flange and a smaller diam" eter flange formed at the lower end of the rod in spaced apart relation, an angular portion between the flanges, a collar positioned on the angular portion adapted to rotate with it, and a crank having a recessed hub for the collar held in engagement with the collar by a frangible member whereby the crank, under stress may be moved independently of the collar.

THOMAS J CAR-LAN. 

